Acupuncture is an ancient healing art characterized by puncturing the skin with fine needles to a depth of a quarter of an inch or more with the goal of pain relief or discomfort in any area of the body.  The needles are placed in acupuncture points, of which there are over 400. Acupuncture points are found along pathways, called meridians or channels, that traverse the body, each connected to one of twelve internal organs. When particular points are punctured there is a healing response in either the acupuncture meridian, the related internal organ, or area of the body.

The earliest evidence of acupuncture was the discovery of stone needles in caves believed to be 5000 years old and bone etchings dating back to 1600 BC. In 1550 BC, an important Egyptian medical treastise discusses channels or vessels, possibly relating to acupuncture channels. One of the earliest treastises in Chinese is the first detailed book on acupuncture was written around 200 BC. (Felix Mann, Acupuncture Ancient Chinese Art of Healing and How It Works Scientifically.

For centuries, acupuncture has been evolving and changing, spreading across Asia to Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, and into Europe where new methods of acupuncture have been discovered and developed. Auricular acupuncture, a system that consists of over seventy points on the ear, was discovered in France, where scalp acupuncture also was founded.  The points used at the Arkansas Acupuncture Center and elsewhere for treating degenerative eye disorders was developed in Europe, possibly in France or Denmark.  

Acupuncture refers to a modality that is part of a larger form of medicine called Oriental Medicine.   

Acupuncture for Treating Pain
Acupuncture is excellent for treating pain. Effective for both acute and chronic pain, acupuncture is used for relief of musculoskeletal and neurological pain; headaches, back, neck, shoulder, knee, and joint pain, abdominal and chest pain. Specific conditions such as sciatica, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, sprains, sports and traumatic injuries, TMJ, arthritis, herniated discs, numbness, tremors, neuralgia are conditions commonly treated with acupuncture, generally with positive results. Acupuncture is so effective for pain, when a patient does not respond to treatment, it can indicate a serious condition and they are encouraged to seek a western medical diagnosis. The degree to which a patient responds to treatment depends on the severity of the condition and the patient's commitment to "staying the course".

Correctly assessing the patients underlying pattern of imbalance is essential for the success of treatment. Acupuncture relieves pain by unblocking Qi or blood in the acupuncture channels, around joints or muscles, and in cases of degeneration of tissue such as degenerative disc disease in the lower back, acupuncture increases circulation of Qi and blood to the area so that the body can heal and promote the growth of healthy tissue.

Lizbeth Ryan uses acupuncture, massage, Chinese herbal prescriptions, nutritional supplements and myofacial trigger point therapy to treat most pain conditions.

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Internal Diseases
Internal medicine refers to the treatment of functional imbalances relating to all systems of the body including digestive, circulatory, respiratory, and endocrine. It is excellent for treating "exterior syndromes" such as cold and flu, acute and chronic skin conditions including poison ivy and well as eczema. Emotional disorders can be alleviated as well.